New York Continues Solar Buildout with $13 Billion in Projects

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Written by Will Ploch, Assistant Editor-in-Chief for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

New York already is outpacing its planned installation of solar energy, with an annual record of 1.28 GW starting operations in 2025. Another $13 billion worth of solar projects are proposed or in development.

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A Sunny State of Mind

Numerous states have set lofty renewable-energy goals, but New York is ahead of the pack on results: According to the office of Governor Kathy Hochul (D), 8 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar has been installed across the state to date, which puts it ahead of schedule for its aim to install 10 GW of solar by 2030. Industrial Info Resources is tracking about $13 billion worth of active and proposed solar-energy projects across New York, with Jefferson, Genesee, Montgomery and Saint Lawrence counties each exceeding $1 billion in total investment.

According to Industrial Info Resources data, most of the investment in Genesee County is attributed to the largest single solar-energy project in New York State: Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC's Cider Solar Plant in Elba, which is about 25 miles west of Rochester. The project is managed by Hecate Energy Cider Solar LLC, a subsidiary of Greenbacker, which aims to generate 500 megawatts (MW) from photovoltaic (PV) panels provided by Canadian Solar Incorporated.

Greenbacker, an independent company that focuses on sustainable infrastructure, gave the project a significant boost in March, when it upsized its construction loan by $188 million. Industrial Info Resources offers more information on the Cider Solar Plant in its Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Plant and Project databases, where readers can find details--including construction schedules, investment values and necessary equipment--in a plant profile and project report.

Also in Genesee County, NextEra Energy Incorporated, which is the largest renewable-energy developer in the U.S., is developing its Excelsior Solar Energy Center in Byron, fewer than 10 miles to the east of Elba. NextEra aims to generate 280 MW from about 1 million PV panels provided by JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited. The project is expected to wrap up toward the end of the year. Readers can learn more from a detailed plant profile and project report.

Utility-scale projects like these already have left their mark on the Empire State. According to a press release from Hochul's office, New York set a new solar generation record on June 3, when the sun supplied about 29% of statewide electricity demand during the noon hour.

"New York is home to 35% of the nation's community solar capacity, securing its position as the top community solar market in the country," said Doreen M. Harris, the chief executive officer of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, in the press release.

By the Numbers

• About $13 billion: Total investment value of active and proposed solar-energy projects across New York
• 8 GW: Total capacity of distributed solar that has been installed across New York to date
• 35%: New York's share of active community solar capacity in the U.S., according to the governor's office

More Projects on the Horizon

"After achieving its original 6-GW distributed solar target a year ahead of schedule in 2024, New York installed a record-breaking 1.28 GW of solar in a single year in 2025," said Rory Christian, the chief executive officer of New York's Public Service Commission. Christian also lauded the Statewide Solar For All Program, which brings solar energy to renters and lower-income residents.

New York State already has secured another $200 million in its Fiscal Year 2027 Budget to further expand solar development. Among the projects currently slated to begin construction next year is AES Corporation's Homer Solar Energy Center in Cortland, about 35 miles south of Syracuse. It is designed to generate 90 MW from PV panels provided by First Solar Incorporated. Readers can consult a detailed project report.

About eight miles west of Cortland, Excelsior Energy Capital currently expects to begin construction next year on its Yellow Barn Solar Plant in Groton. It is designed to generate 160 MW from PV panels, although the project's backers have yet to name a panel provider. Readers can consult a detailed project report.

The Industrial Info Resources GMI Project and Plant databases offer a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and a full list of related plant profiles.

Industrial Info Resources also offers a full list of reports for active and proposed solar-energy projects across New York.

Key Takeaways

• New York already is outpacing its planned installation of solar energy.
• New York installed a record-breaking 1.28 GW of solar in a single year in 2025.
• The state already has secured another $200 million in its 2027 budget to further expand solar development.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news, and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing, and energy-related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified, and verified plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).